Two-piece buckle



April 1, 1935. L. REITER TWO-PIECE BUCKLE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 INVENTOR lues Heifer TORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1935 V 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r 1,997,654 Two-Piece BUCKLE Lues Reiter, Providence, R. I. Application December 27, 1933, Serial No. 704,082 6 Claims. (01. 24-491) The present invention relates to buckles for form of the same, wherein the additional cross belts or straps and particularly, to the type withbar is differently arranged. out prongs or tongues wherein the belt or strap is Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the buckle of clamped or gripped between the buckle parts. Fig. 5. H My invention contemplates the provision of a In the embodiments of the invention here illus- 5 buckle in which the parts need merely be snapped trated, the improved buckle comprises a pair of together after the passage of a belt or strap there superimposed frames 5 and ii hingedly connected through to firmly secure the belt in place, an to each other. Said frames may be shaped to audible click or snap apprising the user when the suitably meet specific requirements. As shown, 10 buckle is closed,,andasimilar click or snap occurthe frames of Figs. l to 4 are substantially D 10 ring when the buckle is opened to release the belt. shaped in outline The frame 6, however, is My invention further contemplates the propreferably made of less length than that of the vision of a two-piece snap buckle which issimple frame 5. Said frame 5 (in Figs. 1 to 4) is proand efficient in operation, adapted to be economi vided with an end bar I and an opposed and oally manufactured fromsheet metaL-and adapt preferably though not necessarily narrower end 15 ed for use with various articles such as articles bar. 8. The frame bars are integrally connected of apparel as well as other goods in which adiustat their respective ends with the longitudinal able buckles maybe used. l u: side bar members Q to provide the opening in 7 My invention further contemplates the -.prosurrounded by said bars.

2o vision of a snap buckle having a pair of frame The bar 7 of the frame 5 is preferably arched 0 elements hingedly connectedtogether at one 'of upwardly as shown and its inner edge Ii adjacent the ends thereof and adapted to cooperate to the opening i0 may be suitably rounded to obviate clamp or grip astrap between the adjacentfree abrasion of the strap or belt, saidedge being arends ofthe elements whereby the strap is e ranged preferably straight'and extending across curely and adiustably. held. r g the frame. 25

My invention further contemplates the pro- For reasons later apparent, the plane or outer vision of buckle means to adjustably; hold the surface of the bar "I is offset relatively to the free endofa strap by pinching, gripping or plane of the bars 9, said bars being joined at 12 clamping said free end between elements wherein by an integral bend which is preferably concave the gripping portions compress thestrap along upwardly. in the present instanoe,'it is pre- 30 a substantially straightline to effectively grip the ferred to make the frame 5 of a material such as strap and to maintain itagainst slipping under metal of sufficient rigidity to resist distortion tension or otherwise while nevertheless .permitagainst a force applied between the bars 7 and 8'. ting easy adjustment of the effective length The frame 6 is preferably made of material of thereon. I I a lighter gauge or thickness than that of the 5 hese and other objects and features of the frame 5, and comprises the respective parallel invention and the means for their attainment, 8nd a s and I4 and the Side b integral will be apparent from the following detailed detherewith and joining the end bars to provide the scription, taken in connection with the accorm opening l6.

4O panying drawing, which is illustrative of certain The end bar i3 is preferably arched in a man- 40 preferredembodiments of the invention, and in ner similar to the end bar land its outer edge which, I1 is straight though it may be rounded to pre- Fig. l is a top plan view of a buckle showing a vent cutting into the belt in a manner similar preferred embodiment of the invention in operato the edge H. The end bar I4 is integrally pro.-

tive engagement with a belt or strap. vided with a preferably cylindrical loop l8 en- 45 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view compassing the end bar 8 is a manner to permit thereof. free hinged, relative movement of the frames.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing While, in the drawing, the loopv E8 is shownas the position assumed by the buckle parts immecarried by the frame 6, it may, of course, be cardiately prior to the gripping'of the strap end ried by the frame 5 with entirely similar results 5Q and just before the snap action occurs. in a manner shown, for example, in my copend- Fig. 4- is a top plan view of an alternate form ing application Serial No. 699,512, and in Fig. 6. of ,my new buckle, wherein an additional cross It will be noted that the frame 6 terminates bar is providecito hold the free end of the belt. at its free end along a line adjacent and in slight 5 Fig. is a similar View of another modified spaced relation to the offsetting bends l2 in the frame 5 to permit the side bars I5 of one frame to come into contact with the side bars 9 of the other frame, and when the frames are in such contact, to permit the edge ll of the smaller frame to assume a position below the edge II of the larger frame.

It will be remembered that the frame 5 is preferably made rigid and non-distortable and that the frame 6 is preferably made of material of a lighter gauge, stiffened by the arch of the bar I3 and the loop integrally formed with the end bar I4. The side bars I5 of the smaller frame 6, however, are adapted to flex to any extent which may be found desirable under pressure against the edge IT, as when the frames are snapped together.

In use, the attached end of the belt or strap I9 is looped, as at 20, around the bar I4 and the doubled back portion is stitched or otherwise at tached in place as at 2! against displacement. The free end 22 of the belt is passed beneath the end bar of the larger frame through the opening I so as to form the bight 23 around the edge I I of said bar I4. As the smaller frame 6 is now swung downwardly toward the larger frame, the edge I! is forced against the bight 23 of the belt, compressing it against the edge I I and if the belt offers sufficient resistance, simultaneously causing a flexing of the side bars I of the smaller frame. The combined action of the compression of the belt material and the flexing of the bars I5 permits the continued downward movement of the smaller frame 6 until the bars I5 are stopped by their contact or engagement with the bars 9, in which position the edge I! is below the edge II. During the last part of the movement just described, that is, when the edge I'I moves from a position just above the edge to a position below said edge, the sudden release of the stresses on the parts causes a highly desirable snap or click to occur, thereby apprising the user that the parts have been driven home and are locked and in proper belt-securing position. The inherent elasticity of the belt material and of the frame bars I5 tend to cause the buckle parts to retain their locked relation between the frames and only manual lifting of the smaller frame 6 can disturb said comparatively unstressed relation. Such lifting of the smaller frame again stresses the buckle parts as when the edges II and I1 reach the same plane. Continued movement past the plane on the unlocking movement again suddenly releases the stresses on the parts to cause a snap and again to apprise the user that the buckle is unlocked. The edge I! cannot so move accidentally because of the comparatively great force necessary to stress the parts sufficiently.

It will be understood that the belt material need not be resilient to insure the snapping action above described, but that proper design of the bars I5 to give the desired flexure provides the means to retain the locked assembly of the buckle frames and the belt. Similarly, the bars I 5 may be rigid and the resiliency of the belt material may provide the means to retain the above-mentioned cooperative relation. Nor need the openings III and I6 be large. In fact, if desired, these openings may be reduced substantially to slots of sufficient width to just permit the passage of the belt therethrough, and the frames may be otherwise solid.

That form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that above described and shown in remaining figures except that the frame 6 is provided with a bar 24 intermediate and parallel to the end bars I and 8 to form the openings Mia and I6b. It is intended that the free end of the belt be passed under the bar 24 to hold it against curling up or flapping about.

It will be seen that my new buckle here disclosed may be quickly and easily adjusted by unskilled persons, that it is simple, economical and efficient, that the necessity of strap-piercing elements is obviated, that the parts have no tendency to mutilate the strap, that it gives the highly desirable snap action demanded in various types of fasteners such as snap fasteners, and that it is well adapted to meet the requirements of practical use.

In that form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the larger frame 26 is provided with an integral extension 21 in the form of a loop having a cross bar 29, the cross bar 30 between the end bars I and 29 being preferably integral with the remainder of the frame and replacing the end bar 8 of the other figures. The loop 28 replaces the loop I8 of the frame 6, and extends integrally from the cross bar 30, being bent around the end bar 25 of the smaller frame 6. The free end 22 of the belt is passed between the frames 26 and 6 through the slight space between the edges I I and I1 thereof, then over the secured end of the belt, which is fastened about the loop 28, and then under the end bar 29. It will be understood that the side bars of the larger frame may be offset at any desired point as 3| to permit the frames to come into proper contact and the edges I1 and II to properly grip the belt, and to provide the desired snap action above described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a simple and new snap device for the purpose mentioned has been disclosed in the preferred forms of its embodiment. However, I do not desire to limit myself to the specific construction shown, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may well be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, so that I intend to claim my invention as broadly as is permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a buckle, a pair of sheet metal frames of different lengths pivoted together at one end of the buckle, each of said frames comprising a pair of comparatively wide and thin end bars extending completely across the frames, and a pair of spaced side bars integrally joining the end bars, and offset portions on the longer frame at the side bars thereof forming recesses independent of the end bars of the longer frame for the reception of the shorter frame to permit the outer edge of an end bar of the shorter frame to pm the inner edge of the adjacent end bar of the longer frame and thereby to permit snapping engagement and disengagement of the frames with a belt passed therebetween.

2. A snap buckle comprising a pair of sheet metal frames of different lengths, each of said frames comprising a substantially D-shaped member having wide and thin end bars, and wide and thin connecting side bars, the adjacent end bars of the respectve frames being pivotally connected and the other end bars being arched in a direction longitudinal of the frames and arranged in tandem relation to each other with said other end bar of the shorter frame arranged inwardly of said other end bar of the longer frame to provide a pair of separable adjacent belt-engaging edges on said respective other end bars, one of said edges being the outer edge of the shorter frame and the other being the inner edge of said other end bar of the longer frame, the frames being adapted to be stressed on the insertion of a belt between said edges, the side bars of the longer frame inwardly of said other end bar being depressed to permit said edges to pass each other.

3. In a buckle, a pair of superimposed sheet metal frames pivotally secured together at one end, a bar integrally formed at the other end of each frame, side bars on the frames joining the end bars thereof, the outer edge of the'bar of one frame being in longitudinal spaced relation to the inner edge of the other bar to provide a belt-receiving space therebetween, said outer edge being arranged below the remainder of said bar of said one frame and in the plane of the side bars of said one frame, said edges, after engagement with a belt being relatively movable past each other into locked position in one direction, and being movable from locked position past each other into belt-releasing position.

4. In a buckle, a pair of sheet metal frames of different lengths pivoted together at one end and relatively movable toward each other into locked position, a wide but thin end bar at the other end of each frame, superimposed wide but thin side bars on each frame integrally connecting the respective end bars to the respective pivoted portions, the outer edge of one end bar being in longitudinal spaced relation and below the inner edge of the other end bar, and both of said edges engaging a belt passed therebetween in the locked position of said frames, the side bars of the frame having said outer edge being superimposed upon the side bars of the other frame.

5. A buckle comprising a pair of superimposed sheet metal frames of different thicknesses of material and having cooperating closely adjacent continuous belt-engaging edges, one of said frames being shorter than the other and the shorter frame being of the thinner material and having comparatively narrow side bars adapted longitudinally to flex when the frame is in engaged relation with a belt inserted between said edges and thereby longitudinally stressing said frames to cause said frames to snap into and out of its locking position with an audible sound, and

means extending from one of the frames and passed about part of the other frame for pivotally connecting the frames.

6. A buckle comprising a pair of superimposed sheet metal frames, one of said frames being shorter than the other and. the shorter frame being of thinner material than the longer frame and of such little thickness as to yieldunder longitudinal stress put thereupon whereby forcible engagement of said frames with a belt passed therebetween causes longitudinal flexure of portions of v the shorter frame out of engagement with the belt to produce a snap action and sound, and means integral with the material of one of said frames and extending therefrom about part of the other frame for pivotally connecting the frames.

LUES REITER. 

